Projects

Natural Area Consulting personnel bring a range of complementary skills and experience to consulting activities, as highlighted in the following projects they have been involved with.

Land Development - Vasse

Land development activities can often involve consideration of significant environmental impacts. A proposed subdivision in Vasse, near Busselton, has required the investigation and assessment of environmental issues including:

Conservation category wetland – identified by the Department of Environment and Conservation from aerial photography. An assessment of the site suggested that the original boundary and assigned management category of the wetland was flawed, so an application has been prepared and submitted to the DEC outlining the reasons why it was believed these should be changed.
Presence of Western Ringtail Possum – a threatened species listed under State and Federal environmental legislation. Surveys using appropriately qualified biologists and zoologists were carried out to assess the actual and potential usage of the site by the possum. The surveys indicated that there is little possum usage because the lack of canopy connectivity, little understory, and few trees are likely to have produced suitable nesting hollows because of their age.
Presence of the Carnaby’s and Baudin’s Black Cockatoo – threatened species listed under State and Federal environmental legislation. Surveys carried out by qualified biologists and zoologists. The survey indicated that while the site was used for foraging by the cockatoos, there was no evidence of nesting hollows or other uses.
Acid Sulphate Soils – given the low lying nature of the land in close proximity to the coast around Busselton, the potential for acid sulphate soils was necessary to assist with deciding the location of infrastructure such as sewer and drainage lines. Field testing carried out indicated that there was no evidence of actual or potential acid sulphate soils (AASS, PASS) to the depths tested on site. Further investigations will be required once the location of sewer and drainage lines is finalised to confirm preliminary outcomes.
Presence of Caladenia procera – Caladenia procera is a rare orchid known from the Busselton region, and was found in the road reserve to the south of the proposed development site. Surveys have identified the location of individual plants, and will be protected through setting up an appropriate buffer around the population. Revegetation activities are planned in the vicinity which will provide a further level of protection to the population.
Shallow depth to groundwater – the low-lying nature of land around the Busselton and Vasse areas coincide with a shallow depth to groundwater, which has implications for ongoing management. Monitoring bores have been installed to enable the maximum groundwater level to be determined and considered during preparation of the development guide plan and later subdivision process. Information also contributed to the development of the Local Water Management Strategy required by the Department of Water.
Vegetation condition – an assessment of the vegetation condition on the site found the area was largely in poor condition due to the large number of dead and dying trees, numerous types of fungi , little middle storey, and the significant presence of weeds. There were few areas on site that could be considered as being in good condition.

Services associated with the project thus far have included:

Flora surveys to identify species on site along with the presence or absence of declared rare flora (DRF)
Vegetation condition survey
Fauna surveys to identify species presence and associated usage along with the presence or absence of rare or threatened species
Preparation and submission of the referral to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) because of the presence of a number of threatened species
Groundwater monitoring and sampling to determine depth to the water table and key physical and chemical parameters
Preparation of Local Water Management Strategy and Urban Water Management Plan
Preparation of various management plans, including wetland and revegetation, kangaroo, dust and mosquito
Preliminary acid sulphate soil field investigations in accordance with DEC guidelines
Preparation of application to modify the wetland classification and boundaries of the conservation category wetland on the site
Contributing to the subdivision design, taking the environmental and other natural features of the site into consideration
Liaison with regulators and other stakeholders
Project management, including overseeing of sub-consultants as required

Personnel Involved:

Sue Brand, Clarissa Sanford

Coastal Redevelopment Site - Perth Metropolitan Area

The coastal strip is under increasing pressure to undergo various forms of redevelopment as Perth’s population increases. A number of areas have been suggested as potential locations for marina developments. Baseline environmental information about such sites is essential to assist with all aspects of the project, including design and statutory approvals. Potential environmental issues faced at one site have included:

Contamination potential – a visit to the site indicated that current land uses included potentially contaminating activities. A preliminary site investigation was carried out to characterise the nature and likelihood of such activities. A detailed site investigation was recommended if the project proceeds.
Fauna survey – a level one fauna survey indicated the presence of a threatened moth (Graceful Sun Moth) and the coastal location of the site indicated the potential to impact on aquatic migratory species, such as the Humpback Whale.
Flora survey – required to assess the presence of rare or endangered species, threatened ecological communities (TEC) or priority ecological communities (PEC), and if found, to take their presence into consideration during the design of the proposed redevelopment.
Vegetation condition survey – enabled previously available information to be updated and reassessed according to current conditions, and determines which areas have the highest conservation values. The intent of the developer is to retain as much of the vegetation in ‘good’ or better condition as possible and to undertake rehabilitation activities in areas where the condition is ‘poor’ or ‘degraded’, and in areas disturbed during development activities
Climate change impacts – new developments, particularly those in coastal areas, need to consider potential impacts from climate change, such as sea level rise and more frequent storm events.
Risk assessment – undertake a preliminary environmental risk assessment of potential opportunities and constraints to development at the site.
Bush Forever – the site includes a portion of a site listed in Bush Forever, as such, the proposed development will need to be discussed with the Bush Forever Branch of the Department of Planning to ensure statutory requirements are appropriately considered and met, including the requirement for offsets.
Marine water quality – undertake preliminary water quality monitoring in vicinity of the site.
Environmental opportunities and constraints – site visits and research activities were undertaken to assess known or likely constraints and opportunities at the site in order to characterise baseline conditions and determine likely issues and/or impacts that would need to be considered during the development process. Issues included the potential presence of acid sulphate soils, contamination,

Services associated with the project included:

Flora and vegetation condition surveys
Fauna survey (Level 1)
Preliminary site assessment (contamination)
Preliminary marine water quality monitoring
Environmental risk assessment
Environmental opportunities and constraints report
Referral to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) to comply with the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth)
Provision of preliminary advice relating to likely State environmental approvals process, including requirement for the development of an offset package
Contribution to potential design of the proposed development
Liaison with regulators and other stakeholders as required
Project management (environmental project components, management of sub-consultants engaged to carry out components of environmental works)

Personnel Involved:

Sue Brand
Jacquie Milner

Bushland Management

NAH have been involved with the active management of the bushland within the Telstra Perth International Telecommunications Centre (PITC) for over six years. Initially, works included general bushland weed control and small scale revegetation as directed through the management recommendations contained within the Environmental Management Plan for the site. Over the years, with continued installations of major infrastructure over the site, the requirement for bushland management and maintenance has grown. The Environmental Management Plan was reviewed in 2008 which created new directions for bushland management.

Dieback – The 300 ha site is predominately Banksia Woodland in very good to excellent condition. The site was initially surveyed for Dieback in 1995, then again in 2001 and 2009. Initially, areas surrounding firebreaks, internal access roads and along the site boundary were mapped as being most seriously infested with the disease. Continued mapping has revealed that the Dieback front is spreading further into the site. While Dieback can never be eliminated from the site treatment with Phosphite can reduce its spread. The review of the environmental management plan in 2008 considered a range of other Dieback management options at the site, including the relocation of wash down facilities and revegetating the advancing Dieback front with resistant species.

Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC) – The TEC SCP 20a Banksia attenuata woodland over species rich shrub land has been identified in five locations over the PITC site. This community type occurs on sands at the base of the Darling Scarp in areas north of Perth. It is very restricted and the richest of any Banksia community found on the coastal plain. The TEC has been demarcated on site.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Project – This project had the aim of reducing the radio frequency interference from adjoining residentialNAH have been involved with the active management of the bushland within the Telstra Perth International Telecommunications Centre (PITC) for over six years. Initially, works included general bushland weed control and small scale revegetation as directed through the management recommendations contained within the Environmental Management Plan for the site. Over the years, with continued installations of major infrastructure over the site, the requirement for bushland management and maintenance has grown. The Environmental Management Plan was reviewed in 2008 which created new directions for bushland management. properties. A 200m sand bund (4m high) was created along a firebreak on the property boundary line and then revegetated through direct planting and direct seeding. In the long term, the vegetation act to absorb any incoming radiation from neighbouring residential properties whilst also acting as a buffer zone.

Firebreak Reclamation – There is a long history of prescribed burning and maintenance of firebreaks over the PITC site in an effort to protect infrastructure. In most cases, firebreaks were 20-30m wide but never effective in fire management. A process of firebreak reclamation by implementing high density revegetation and allowing natural regeneration began three years ago, with ongoing work including continued monitoring and infill planting as required.

Vegetation Offset – Several vegetation offset programs have been implemented over the site. Offset Proposals have been prepared for approval by the DEC and implemented through the management of on-ground activities including annual monitoring and reporting.

Services associated with the project thus far have included:

Environmental management plan review
Revegetation plan
Site assessment
Vegetation condition mapping
Weed condition mapping and control activities
Revegetation activities
Dieback management advice
TEC advice
Sand bund design, installation and revegetation
Stakeholder liaison and consultation

Personnel Involved:

Kimberly Harmsworth
Jacquie Milner
David Eccleston
Jimmy Gummer